It’s all my fault, since she was a baby I let her at least taste what I was eating to see if she liked it. Now I get “The Stare” if I dare eat a favorite and not offer a sample, let alone eat something that smells intriguing and let her make up her own mind if it is fit for her to eat.

The image below is what “The Stare” looks like from my end.

How can I say “No?” Especially looking at that face. Her name is Latte’… well, actually her name is Caffeine Latte’ Da Cappuccino. When she was little (and we thought she was a boy) her coloring was dark cream with spirals fading to white. Definite tabby markings in the swirls, but basically her coloring looked like an espresso as you stirred in the cream. She also had startling blue eyes…when you could see any color.

I had a time, trying to make sure she was eating. Our older cat was NOT happy about this intruder and guarded the food dish jealously. Latte’ was so little and weighed nothing and was also very picky about what she would eat. I watched her NOT eat for three solid days, because she did not like what was in the bowl. She wasn’t starving, she had to be sneaking food when I wasn’t watching, but she was quickly approaching the age when she needed to be spade. The vet would not perform the surgery unless she weighed 5 pounds (2.27 kg). meanwhile, she was howling out her “come hither” moan, day and night.

I frantically fed her anything she would eat, hoping to put the weight on her so she could stop moaning and howling over her lost loves beyond the window. During this time, I am ashamed to say, I got her hooked on ham, bacon, chicken, expensive cheese. This kitty has an elitist palate when it comes to cheese, she took me by surprise the day she ate more Stilton than I did. Finally I got her a few ounces over the required weight and the vet took it from there. No more howling, no more moaning.

To this day she comes to sniff my fingers, lips and plate to see if what I have is good for kitties, too. If I don’t offer at least a sniff I get “The Stare.” Latte’ will sit and watch me until all the food is gone, and “The Stare” turns into glare if I have not responded.

Tonight I was sitting and munching a small piece of fried ham, a leftover from our breakfast. I promise, I did give the fur beast her portion earlier. Finally, unable to resist the glare from her fuzzy face, I headed to the kitchen for a small piece of deli ham, chopped up to her satisfaction. She gobbled up every bit and is one happy kitty.

Of course, now that I have performed my duty I am being ignored…until she decides it’s time for a nap and I must become a human cat bed. Any minute now.

Copyright © Elizabeth Youmans
June 12, 2007